Today,
Human Rights is a global issue. It is being addressed
from the legal, social, ethical, religious, social perspectives
and many other contexts. A very large number of organizations,
from the level of the United Nations to the small-town
NGOs, are associated with this movement. The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly on 10th December 1948 at Paris.
However, it is observed that many people are not aware
about the exact meaning of human rights.

Human
rights are moral principles or norms or a code of conduct.
These are based on a particular philosophy, religion,
culture, values, customs and traditions. They represent
what people think they should do. The citizens of one
nation are entitled to such Human Rights in another country.

Human
rights are inherent (inborn, inbuilt, natural) rights
of each human being regardless of nation, location, language,
religion, ethnic group or any other consideration. These
rights cannot be taken away under any circumstances. These
are applicable everywhere and at all times. They are universal
and egalitarian in nature. Each human being deserves to
be a beneficiary of human rights. He has a duty to respect
the human rights of others. It emphasizes on human dignity.
The judicially enforceable Fundamental Rights of the Indian
Constitution include all seminal civil and political rights
and some of the rights of the minorities as enshrined
in part 3 of the Constitution (articles 12 to 35). According
to Justice Subba Rao in Golaknath V. State of Punjab “Fundamental
rights are the modern name for what have been traditionally
known as natural rights.”

However,
the Vedic and post Vedic Hindu culture of India had prescribed
and extolled the enforcement of certain inherent rights
not only for human beings but for other species as well.

Our
Vedas declare:

“Ajyesthaaso
Akanisthaasa Yete
Sam Bhraataro Vaarudhuh Soubhagaya “

(Rig
Veda, Mandala-5, Sukta-60, Mantra-5).

It says “No
one is superior or inferior; all are brothers; all should
strive for the interest of all and progress collectively.”

As one enters the
Parliament Building in Delhi one sees a Sanskrit verse
at the entrance:

It says, “May
He protect us together
May He nourish us together
May we work together with greater energy
May our study be vigorous and effective
May we not hate each other
Let there be peace all over.”

As an essential prerequisite
for the Right to Happiness, the Rig Veda unequivocally
declares that all human beings are equal. The Atharva
Veda goes further and talks about various Rights and obligations
of human beings:

It
says, “All have equal right to articles of food
and water. The yoke of the chariot of life is placed equally
on the shoulders of all. All should live together in harmony
supporting one another like the spokes of a wheel of the
chariot connecting its rim and hub”.

--
(Atharva Veda – Samjnana Sukta)

In
the post Vedic period Buddhism and particularly Jainism
were against killing of animals and inflicting torture
on other species. Emperor Ashoka (304-232 BCE) championed,
secured and protected human rights like rights to equality,
liberty, happiness and security of life. Torture and inhuman
treatment of prisoners was prohibited in his kingdom.
Our Vedas also preached about the protection of animals
as a spiritual conduct, e.g.,

“You
must not use your God-given body for killing God’s
creatures, whether they are human, animal or whatever.”

--Yajur
Veda 12.32

and

“Those
noble souls who practice meditation and other yogic ways,
who are ever careful about all beings, who protect all
animals, are the ones who are actually serious about spiritual
practices.”

--Atharva
Veda 19.48.5

Given
this backdrop the recent court judgments on the issue
of the fundamental rights of the birds are welcome decisions.
The Hon High Court of Delhi --in the
case of People for Animals vs. Md Mohazzim, have declared
that birds have the fundamental right to “live with
dignity” and fly in the sky without being kept in
cages or subjected to cruelty. Running their trade was
a “violation of their rights”. Justice Manmohan
Singh expressed anguish that instead of being allowed
to fly free, they were “exported illegally to foreign
countries without availability of proper food, water or
medical aid”. “I am clear in mind that all
the birds have fundamental rights to fly in the sky and
all human beings have no right to keep them in small cages
for the purpose of their business or otherwise,”
the judge said. Further “…This court is of
the view that running the trade of birds is in violation
of the rights of the birds. They deserve sympathy. Nobody
is caring as to whether they have been inflicted cruelty
or not despite a settled law that birds have a fundamental
right to fly and cannot be caged and will have to be set
free in the sky.” “Birds have fundamental
rights including the right to live with dignity and they
cannot be subjected to cruelty by anyone including claim
made by the respondent (Mohazzim).”

The
Hon Supreme Court of India -- A bench
headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu agreed to examine the
validity of the Gujarat high court order holding that
birds have fundamental rights to fly. The bench issued
a notice to the Gujarat government on the appeal filed
against the Gujarat High Court order. The High Court had
said: “ it is the fundamental right of birds to
live freely in the open sky ,and it is the duty of every
citizen to see that there is no unnecessary pain of suffering
to animal or bird.”

The
saints and realized souls like Shirdi Sai Baba not only
believed in Humanism “Manav Vada” but also
in the equal protection of other species “Prani
Vada”. The realized souls believed in a cosmic whole.
According to them the human race cannot be happy without
the proper protection, growth and sustenance of other
species. Besides it will dis-balance nature and create
ecologicial problems. The ecological problem is very much
there for all us to experience. It is not too late to
learn from our forefathers.

You may have given many different gifts to your
friends and loved ones, but giving a subscription
of "Heritage of Shirdi Sai" magazine would be a
unique gift as it connects the people you love with
SADGURU SHIRDI SAI and brings His blessings with
the gift.

Topic of Discussion feature is
intended to initiate useful discussions on topics
related to Shirdi Sai Philosophy and His teachings,
Guru Tradition, Teachings of the Sadguru,
the nature and functions of the Perfect Masters,
true devotion, qualification of a disciple, etc.
"We owe to nature to protect it "

TOPIC OF DISCUSSION:
"We should protect our culture which is a
binding force of our society ".

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